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Tracy Furlong
13th July 2007 16:12

Unfurling Organic Design

 

Across all art forms and throughout time, Designers have been inspired by organic, free flowing, fluid forms found in nature and as a designer I am myself particularly inspired by nature. I remember 10 years ago I visited Heligan Gardens and its magical, ethereal atmosphere has stayed with me and still influences my designs.

Silver Fern pendant with 0.25cts moonstone on cable

There is a wibbly-wobbly tree in the estate ground with lush ferns and tropical plants in the jungle; there really is something to inspire everyone.

Looking further back we can clearly see Organic Design in the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. For example, if we consider the work of William Morris and Dante Rosetti... we can see green fields, clear waters and the timeless beauty of winding woodland trails with flowers and acanthus leaves. Check out the Gallery at the Morris Society.

Large sterling silver leaf necklace

Today the influence of nature is as strong as in the works of artists like Andy Goldsworthy, whose sculpture and photography have clear organic design derivations. We can see that he uses nature's ever changing environment to create beautiful sculpture, where the success of the work is entirely dependent on the elements: e.g. ice sculpture and wood on water.

Ice sculpture Wood on water

To emphasise the organic nature of the work he records the sculpture with photography before the elements disintegrate it.

Customers often commission Jewellery Designers to translate a special or memorable place into an item of jewellery. This can involve capturing the following:

Water
The colour, the rhythm and pattern...swirls, dips, and whirls allow the designer to represent all energies from still water to raging waterfalls.
Landscape
Here there can often be a focus on colours, textures, tones, lines and space.

The design of this ring was inspired by Ayres Rock in Australia where Richard proposed. The red colour and shape of the ruby together with the rose gold setting represents that distinctive landmark.

Organic design isn't always flowing lines though, can also be formal and geometric, ordered, with a sense of balance and structure. Like nature itself, the possibilities for a designer are limitless.

Tracy Furlong
 

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  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Weston, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP, England
    Phone: +44 (0)1462 790565 Fax: +44 (0)1462 790140 enquiries@hkjewellery.co.uk
  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, 6/7 Green Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3JU, England.
    Phone: +44 (0)1223 461333 Fax: +44 (0)1223 365269 cambridge@hkjewellery.co.uk

Our designs are legally protected by design right and copyright law and cannot be copied.